I am not speaking absolute truth that is a given everywhere but in the majority of Europe Roma people, as they are sometimes referred to as gypsies, have a very poor image. It is even worse than the stereotypes that confront Muslim or African immigrants in some instances.
I remember having worked with Romania Roma. He was very proud about his German girlfriend a blonde woman whom he referred to as a great victory.
This was followed by something I never forget when he told me.
His mother believes him to be Turkish, he said. Initially she was a bit reluctant but after she thought I am Turkish, I did not correct her.
Why not? I asked.
He said: because better to be considered as Turkish than a gypsy. When people believe that you are one of the Middle East they might closest imagine that you are either too religious or possibly hard in business. However, when you prove to have integrity and that you are not a religious freak, they normally give you a chance.
But when they do know you are a gypsy, they think you a born criminal. I can see the reasons. I have a brother at jail. In Romania my father was a thief. I know some of my cousins that earn their livings illegally. That was not the life I wanted to lead and so I ran to Western Europe to avoid it.”
This is why there is the stigma. As late as 2010, one of the French ministers publicly proposed the deportation of Roma due to the levels of crime. These are unfair accusations to a whole stereotype and my colleague was a decent person. Yet even he acknowledged that crime was normal in his own family and that is what he was attempting to escape.
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